U.S. patent application number 09/891489 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-26 for cup carrier.
Invention is credited to Brown, Eric.
Application Number | 20020195371 09/891489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25398276 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020195371 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Eric |
December 26, 2002 |
Cup carrier
Abstract
A cup carrier is described which has an integrally formed body
portion having a base, walls and four cup-holding openings, wherein
two of the cup holding openings define a first pair and two cup
holding openings define a second pair, and the first pair of cup
holding openings is provided at a first level relative to the base,
and the second pair of openings is provided at a second level from
the base which is higher from the base than the first level. The
openings in one pair of the cup holding openings can be differently
sized than the cup holding openings in the other pair to
accommodate different sizes of drink cups.
Inventors: |
Brown, Eric; (Benton,
ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ, LLP
1220 N MARKET STREET
P O BOX 2207
WILMINGTON
DE
19899
|
Family ID: |
25398276 |
Appl. No.: |
09/891489 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/564 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 229/904 20130101;
A47G 23/0641 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/564 |
International
Class: |
B65D 001/34; B65D
006/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cup carrier comprising an integrally formed body portion
having a base, walls and four cup-holding openings, wherein: two
cup holding openings comprise a first pair and two cup holding
openings comprise a second pair; the first pair of cup holding
openings is provided at a first level relative to the base, and the
second pair of openings is provided at a second level from the base
which is higher from the base than the first level; and wherein the
members of each pair of cup-holding openings face each other across
the center of the cup carrier.
2. The cup carrier of claim 1, wherein the pairs of cup holding
openings have different sizes.
3. The cup carrier of claim 2, wherein the pair of cup holding
openings at the first level are smaller than the pair of cup
holding openings at the second level.
4. The cup carrier of claim 1, wherein integral, deflectable tabs
are provided in the cup holding openings.
5. The cup carrier of claim 3, wherein integral, deflectable tabs
are provided in the cup holding openings.
6. The cup carrier of claim 1, further comprising a central
downpost provided in substantially the center of the tray, which
extends from first level to the base level of the cup carrier.
7. The cup carrier of claim 3, further comprising a central
downpost provided in substantially the center of the tray, which
extends from first level to the base level of the cup carrier.
8. The cup carrier of claim 1, further comprising a slot positioned
on the lower edge of the cup carrier on at least one side of the
cup carrier to facilitate grasping.
9. The cup carrier of claim 8, further comprising a depression
associated with the slot, provided at the first level of the cup
carrier.
10. A cup carrier comprising a body portion having a base, walls
and four cup-holding openings, wherein: two cup holding openings
comprise a first pair and two cup holding openings comprise a
second pair; the first pair of cup holding openings is provided at
a first level relative to the base, and the second pair of openings
is provided at a second level from the base which is higher from
the base than the first level; wherein the members of each pair of
cup-holding openings face each other across the center of the cup
carrier; the openings comprising the first pair of cup holding
openings are smaller than the openings comprising the second pair
of cup holding openings; and the openings are provided with
deflectable tabs which project inwardly from the outer periphery of
the openings.
11. A cup carrier comprising a body portion, a base, and at least
two cup holding openings, wherein the cup-holding openings are
provided at the upper surface of the tray and the cup-holding
openings are provided at different levels from the base of the cup
carrier.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a cup carrier for holding and
transporting beverage cups.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
[0002] Carry trays for holding and carrying beverage cups are
well-known and are in widespread use in carry out food restaurants,
stadiums, convenience stores, coffee shops and the like.
[0003] Typically, the trays comprise a main body portion provided
with a number of cup-holding sockets. The number of cup holding
sockets can vary, depending on the style of the cup carrier.
Moreover, it is known to configure the cup-holding sockets so as to
firmly accommodate drinking cups of different sizes. An example of
a versatile cup-holding socket is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,008
to Vellieux, which structure involves flexible members in the
sockets which deflect as the cup is inserted and exert a
stabilizing force on the sides of the cup. Another approach has
been to provide sockets of different sizes on the same cup carrier,
as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,065 to Vigue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention provides for a cup carrier comprising a main
body portion, and cup-holding openings provided in the main body
portion. Preferably four cup-holding openings are provided. The
upper-surface of the body portion is multi-leveled. When four
openings are present, a first pair of the cup-holding openings are
provided at a first level relative to the base of the body portion,
and a second pair of the cup-holding openings are provided at a
second level relative to the base of the body portion, with the
second level being higher from the base than the first level.
Preferably, the pairs of cup-holding openings are differently
sized, to allow insertion of both larger and smaller sizes of
cups.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a currently-preferred
embodiment of a cup carrier;
[0006] FIG. 2 is top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken along
line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] Referring to the figures, the cup carrier of the invention
comprises a body portion 10, which in the illustrated embodiments,
is a unitary, molded three-dimensional structure. In preferred
form, the body portion is molded as a unitary, contoured article
from a rigid material, such as molded pulp fiber. An outer flange
60 may surround the entire outer edge of the cup carrier body, to
add stability and facilitate grasping.
[0010] As an alternative to molded pulp fiber, the body portion may
be formed from thermoplastic or a different rigid material.
[0011] The body portion 10 comprises a base 11, sides 12, first
level 13a, and second level 13b.
[0012] As seen in the Figures, the cup carrier is provided with
four cup-holding openings, which comprise a first pair of openings
20a and second pair of openings 20b. The first pair of openings 20a
are provided at the first level 13a, and the second pair of
openings are provided at the second level 13b. As shown, the two
cup-holding openings of the first pair of openings are provided
across the center of the tray from one another, and similarly, the
two cup-holding openings in the 19d second pair are provided across
the center of the tray from one another. The bi-leveling of the cup
carrier upper surface as described has been found to improve the
strength of the carrier when carrying full drinking cups.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the two pairs of cup-holding
openings have different sizes. That is, the cup-holding openings
comprising the first pair 20a are sized to be the same size as each
other, but different in size from the openings comprising the
second pair of openings 20b. In the embodiment shown, the openings
20a are smaller than the openings 20b. So configured, the openings
20b in the second level are larger than the openings 20a in the
first level.
[0014] The particular size of the openings should be determined
based on the size of drinking cups to be held. Based on currently
popular drinking cup sizes, it is preferred that the openings 20a
have a diameter d1 of about 2{fraction (9/16)} inches, and that the
openings 20b have diameter d2 of about 31/8 inches.
[0015] Provided at the periphery of each of the cup-holding
openings are flexible tabs 30. Preferably, the tabs are formed
integrally with the base. The tabs 30 are stiff, but can yield when
a cup is forced into the opening. Thus, the tabs act to stabilize a
cup which is inserted into the cup-holding opening. To facilitate
their bending, the tabs are formed so as to have a downward slant
or curvature towards the center of the opening. The number and
configuration of tabs is variable and depends on the size and shape
of the cups to be carried. In the illustrated embodiment, larger
openings 20b are provided with six tabs, and smaller openings 20a
are provided with four tabs.
[0016] It should be noted that, in some sizes of cups, the cup will
tend to settle against the outer edges of tabs 30, and be stably
held. The edges of the tabs 30 thus define inner dimensions to each
cup-holding opening. As shown in FIG. 2, the edges of the tabs
define a diameter d3 in the openings 20a, and a diameter d4 in
openings 20b. Based on currently popular drinking cup 14 sizes, it
is preferred that the openings 20a have a diameter d3 of about
2{fraction (1/16)} inches, and that the openings 20b have diameter
d4 of about 21/8 inches.
[0017] As can be seen from the drawings, the tabs 30 are positioned
at essentially the level of the cup-holding opening with which they
are associated, and project from the periphery of the opening
towards the center of the opening. When a cup is inserted, it is
grasped and stabilized by the tabs at the same level as the
opening. This provides stabilization higher on the cup sidewall
than some prior designs, where the cup was grasped by deflectable
members located at a lower position in a cup socket. Grasping the
cups higher on their sidewalls tends to improve the stability of
the cup carrier when loaded with filled drink cups.
[0018] The configuration of openings and tabs as shown is versatile
for holding different sizes of cups. Many different sizes of cups
can be stably held. Any size of cup which is inserted can be
lowered into the cup-holding opening until, at some diameter, the
sidewall of the cup is held either by the edges of the tabs or, for
a larger cup, by the outer edge of the cup-holding opening with the
tabs fully deflected. By appropriate choice of dimensions, it can
be assured that the more common sizes of cups are securely held by
the tabs when inserted such that the bottom of the cup reaches the
level of the base of the cup carrier. That way, when the filled cup
carrier is placed on a flat surface, the bottom of a cup which is
fully inserted in the cup-holding opening will rest on the same
flat surface, providing a very stable arrangement of the cups in
the carrier.
[0019] One or more of the lower edges of the cup carrier can be
provided with an integral slot 40, to facilitate picking up and
holding the cup carrier. Situated on the first level 13a in
association with the slot is a depression 50, into which the user's
thumb may be inserted. To easily carry the cup carrier, the thumb
is inserted into depression 50 and the remaining fingers wrap to
below the carrier in slot 40. Preferably, each side of the cup
carrier is provided with a slot, a depression or both.
Alternatively, the fingers can extend under the tray such that the
user's fingers push against the center downpost.
[0020] Provided in the center of the tray, and separating each of
the pairs of cup-holding openings, is center downpost 70. The
center downpost is formed integrally with the cup carrier, and
extends from the first level 13a to the base level 11. Thus, when
the cup carrier is positioned on a flat surface, the center
downpost rests on the flat surface to further stabilize the cup
carrier.
[0021] As persons skilled in the art will appreciate, the cup
carrier may be formed in common dimensions which are generally
known in the industry. In overall dimensions, the cup carrier may
be square, having a length and width of about 81/2 inches. The
height from the base to the first level is about 13/8 inches, and
the height from the base to the second level is about 17/8
inches.
[0022] When formed as described, the cup carrier has advantages of
small size, excellent strength and stability, low cube size, and
easy denesting.
[0023] Further modifications and variations of the illustrated
embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *